Persistent Spain find late solution

Spain had to be patient as they sought to maintain their perfect record in 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying Group 4, Míchel eventually finding a way past Finland with eleven minutes remaining to lift his side up to second.

Hradecky savesJuan Ramon Lopez Caro's troops had fired six goals in their two previous outings but they struggled to register against their visitors in Cordoba. Finland goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky kept them at bay more than once, saving a Diego Capel free-kick with 24 minutes gone and denying Daniel Parejo from another set-piece three minutes after the break. Aside from a Teemu Pukki effort put wide six minutes before the interval, all the danger was being created at one end, and Finland's troubles increased when Ville Nikkari had to be replaced due to injury in first-half added time.

Capel crossSpain continued to go close with Javi Martínez spurning a great opportunity on 51 minutes and Hradecky keeping out an Adrián López header on the hour mark, before Victor Laguardia Cisneros had a goal ruled out for offside. The hosts kept probing, however, and eventually struck when Míchel nodded in a cross from Capel, which had been given the deftest of flicks by Adrián López. The win took Spain above Poland thanks to their head-to-head record, with the second-placed team having played two games fewer. Finland lie fourth, six points behind their conquerors.

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